Chronic pain affects between one-third and one-half of people in the UK, amounting to some 28 million adults. And it's not just older adults who experience chronic pain, around 30% of people aged 18-39 report chronic pain (Fayaz et al., 2016). It's no surprise, then, that pain management specialists are constantly busy finding better ways to help people handle ongoing pain. The result of that labour? Advanced pain-relief technology called SCENAR.
SCENAR, which is short for Self-Controlled Neuro-Adaptive Regulator, a revolutionary bio-electrical medical device for pain relief. It is one of the most advanced pain relief treatment technologies currently available and has demonstrated efficacy for both acute and chronic pain.
In a professional setting, health care workers can use SCENAR to address sports injuries, arthritis, back pains, inflammations and numerous other conditions. Home SCENAR can also be used for pain management at home and in between medical sessions. It requires no specialist medical training; you can start using this non-invasive device right away after completing a short instructional course.
SCENAR works for a variety of pain conditions. It can be used to generate a system-wide response or to target specific areas of the body more deeply. This innovative system has demonstrated benefits in cases where other treatments have failed to meaningfully relieve pain.
How does SCENAR work?
Electrical nerve stimulation has been widely used for many years to relieve pain. SCENAR is a hand-held device that transmits minute electrical impulses through an electrode to the skin and through to the nervous system as part of a process of flexible neurostimulation and feedback.
Our bodies run on electrical signals and use complex biofeedback mechanisms to maintain stable, and ideally optimal, conditions. This process of homeostasis relies on nerve signals and neurochemicals called neuropeptides. When the process is disrupted by injury or illness, this can alter the types of nerve signals being sent around the body, resulting in pain.
SCENAR aims to promote the release of neuropeptides and thereby support the body's natural healing process while relieving pain. Consider it a helping hand for the body's ongoing effort at homeostasis.
People who use SCENAR often find that the device helps to identify specific trigger points as it is moved across the skin. These trigger points may be associated with pain in another area of the body, meaning that they are easily missed by therapies focusing only on the site of pain. As such, SCENAR can help refocus attention for greater results and pain relief.
Is it effective for pain relief?
Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of SCENAR technology for pain relief. In fact, the device has been used for over forty years, having been developed for the Soviet Union space program in the 1970s!
In a recently completed randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, people with fibromyalgia underwent treatment with SCENAR and experienced statistically significant results both in pain relief and the reduction in fibromyalgia symptoms.
SCENAR has repeatedly shown an ability to significantly modulate pain within minutes. Over a series of treatments, SCENAR can create lasting improvements in chronic pain. It is also suitable for use with many other treatments.
Is SCENAR different to a regular TENS machine?
SCENAR has been designed in such a way that the device can react to changes in how the body responds to the electrical impulses it emits. By monitoring resistance in the current flowing through the skin, SCENAR can adjust the strength, frequency, and timing of the electrical signals. A regular TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine is limited in its ability to relieve pain as it only emits uniform impulses. As the body gets used to these impulses they become ineffective and may even become counterproductive.
The hand-held SCENAR device also appears to stimulate C-fibres more effectively than other types of pain relief technology. C-fibres are small nerve fibres and make up around 70% of the nerves in the body. They carry sensory information to the brain and spinal cord and produce a significant number of neuropeptides to modulate pain responses.
What does SCENAR feel like?
A typical introductory SCENAR session lasts between half an hour and an hour and aims to identify areas of concern while beginning to promote the body's own healing processes. The device creates a slight tingling sensation that may feel strange and uncomfortable, but does not cause pain. In some cases, the stimulation may initially exacerbate pain as the body's natural healing begins and new nervous system responses are built. Depending on the cause of a person's chronic pain, there may be some relief after just one session.
SCENAR devices now include SCENAR Sport D, which is designed for use at home to manage chronic pain and/or speed up recovery after an injury or surgery. This device can be set to four impulse frequencies, with lower frequencies ideal for treating pain related to degenerative processes and higher frequencies for acute pain related to inflammation. Sport D also features an LCD screen that provides data on the electrical impulses, such as strength and current. There are several automated modes to choose from, making it even easier to tailor therapy for advanced pain relief.
Scenar Devices can be found at the following links:
Reference
Fayaz, A., Croft, P., Langford, R.M., et al. (2016). Prevalence of chronic pain in the UK: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population studies. BMJ Open, 6:e010364.
Udina, C. (2017). Effects of Neuro-adaptive Regulation Therapy on Central Sensitisation. PhD thesis presentation at the University of Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid in Spain. Available: https://sensusmedical.es/blog/